Portable seat

• US 20040155506A1
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inno-Labs, LP
• Original Assignee: Inno-Labs, LP
• Inventors: Gentry, Todd R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,848,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/380
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/021 Detachable or loose seat cushions
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/748 for heating

Abstract

A portable seat is provided. The seat comprises a cushion device inside a pocket formed by an outer casing. A heat transfer device is carried by the cushion device and is inside the outer casing. The cushion may be reversed permitting the heat transfer device to be immediately adjacent the user or to provide at least a portion of the cushion between the heat transfer device and the user.

Claims

1. A portable seat including:

a bottom portion including;

an exterior casing forming an interior pocket and having an elongate opening providing access to the pocket;

a cushion member contained within the pocket; and

a cover in the interior pocket and at least partly surrounding the cushion member and selectively removable therewith from the interior pocket and adapted to removably retain a heat transfer device adjacent to the cushion member and in heat transfer relation to an exterior surface of the exterior casing, said cover at least partly defining a receptacle adapted to contain a heat transfer device therein.

2. A seat as set forth in claim 1 wherein the receptacle is positioned between an exterior portion of the cover and an open weave member secured to and overlying a portion of the cover on a major face thereof with the receptacle being between the cover and the member.

3. A seat as set forth in claim 2 including a second opening providing access to the receptacle for installation and removal of a heat transfer device.

4. A seat as set forth in claim 3 wherein the seat includes a back support portion connected to the bottom portion and the bottom portion has a sitting surface, said receptacle is reversible in position whereby the receptacle is selectively positionable at a location adjacent to the sitting surface or remote from the sitting surface with a portion of the cushion member between the heat transfer device and the sitting surface.

5. A seat as forth in claim 4 wherein the bottom portion and back support portion each include a resiliently deformable generally rigid member therein and said back support portion is connected to said bottom portion by a hinge mounted on each side of the seat and secured to said rigid members.

6. A portable seat including:

a bottom portion including;

an exterior casing forming an interior pocket and an elongate opening providing access to the pocket; and

a cushion device contained within the pocket, said cushion device having an area between portions thereof for receipt of a heat transfer device therein.

7. A seat as set forth in claim 6 wherein the cushion device includes a plurality of formed openings extending between the area and an exterior of the cushion device.

8. A seat as set forth in claim 7 wherein the cushion device includes at least two cushion portions having adjacent inner faces at least partially defining said area.

9. A seat as set forth in claim 8 includes a selectively attachable panel secured to the seat and overlying at least a portion of a major face of the bottom portion.

10. A seat as set forth in claim 9 includes expository indicia on an exposed face of the panel.

11. A seat as set forth in claim 8 wherein the elongate opening allows flow of air into the interior pocket.

12. A cushion device selectively usable as a seat, the cushion device including:

a seat portion having an exterior first casing with a first receptacle therein;

a back portion having a second exterior casing with a second receptacle therein;

a cushion member in each of the first and second receptacles;

an opening providing access to at least one of the first and second receptacles;

a retainer device in one of said first and second receptacles adapted to receive a heat transfer device for selectively retention therein; and

at least one member connected to the seat and back portions to selectively retain the seat and back portions in a chair forming orientation and selectively allowing the seat and back portions to lie in a generally common plane to form a mattress.

13. A device as set forth in claim 12 including an extension portion comprising a third exterior casing with a third receptacle therein and a cushion member in the third receptacle, said extension portion being selectively movable to lie in said generally common plane.

14. A device as set forth in claim 13 wherein there is a said retainer device in each of at least two of said seat portion, back portion and said extension portion and a plurality of heat transfer devices each selectively positionable in a respective one of said seat, back and extension portions to provide a plurality of heat transfer zones.

15. A cushion device including:

an exterior casing defining an interior receptacle;

a cushion member positioned in said receptacle;

a selectively attachable panel secured to the cushion device and overlying a portion of the exterior casing; and

expository indicia on the panel.

16. A cushion device as set forth in claim 15 including at least one device removably attaching the panel to the exterior casing.

17. A cushion device as set forth in claim 16 wherein the device includes a fastener device removably fastening a first portion of the panel to the exterior casing.

18. A cushion device as set forth in claim 17 wherein the fastener device includes hook and loop members.

19. A cushion device as set forth in claim 17 wherein the fastener device includes a pocket adjacent an edge of the cover for receiving a portion of the cushion member therein.

20. A portable seat including:

a base portion including an exterior casing forming an interior pocket and having an elongate opening providing access to the pocket and means for selectively securing said opening in a closed position, said interior pocket being adapted for the receipt of a heat transfer device therein that will be positioned in heat transfer relation to a surface of the casing adapted for supporting a person;

a back support portion connected to the base portion, said base portion and back support portion being selectively moveable relative to one another between a storage position and a using position; and

hinge means cooperating with the base portion and back support portion permitting the hinged movement therebetween.

21. A seat as set forth in claim 20 including a collapsible frame connected to the base portion and the back support portion with said hinge means being connected to said frame.